Arena Profile: Former State Sen. Dave Schultheis

Born in Los Angeles in 1940, Dave Schultheis was active in Scouting throughout his early years, earning the award of Eagle Scout at the age of 16. While in his teens, he also learned the retail furniture business at his father’s store.

Dave attended College at Occidental College, University of Minnesota, and California State University at Los Angeles, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Management Science. During his college years, he married his wife, Sandra, of over 48 years.

During his years in California, following graduation he held several positions with Collins Engineering Corporation and Southern California Edison Corporation before striking out on his own to purchase and rehab residential income property.

In the spring of 1996, Dave started his political journey when his State Representative voted against a bill that would have banned partial birth abortion. While losing his first bid for office in 1998 by only 300 votes, he ran and won again in 2000 by a slim 114 votes, doing so while campaigning as a strong, conservative, pro-life candidate.

He has served ten years in the legislature, three two-year terms in the Colorado House of Representatives and four years as state senator, representing northern Colorado Springs. Dave has introduced numerous pro-life bills as well as many to limit the role of government. He has worked tirelessly to raise awareness of and to stop illegal immigration to the U. S. and Colorado and is a strong advocate for small business. In addition, he has served four years on the State’s Legislative Audit Committee, serving as its chairman in 2010.

Former State Sen. Dave Schultheis's Recent Discussions

Eric Cantor gutsy or 'gutless' on debt talk walk-out

The real question that should be asked is: “Can the White House and Democrat leadership make a deal?”

This question was framed as if it is the Republicans that are at fault by merely trying to keep citizens from having to fork out more of their hard-earned money during a time of deepening recession. There should be obvious to all that the Democrat leadership is trying to keep from angering the growing number of citizens who are beholden to the government largess at the expense of the more productive citizens.

Cutting their entitlements is anathema to the Democrats; it funds their base. The Republican leadership must remain strong in its resolve to truly deal with the “elephant in the room” ... Entitlements were never part of the philosophy of our Founding Fathers; one can easily see how that philosophy has no end until all the wealth producers have been destroyed.

Japan a manageable crisis or looming catastrophe?

Plus, "In God We Trust" motto threatened?

If my ten years as a Colorado state legislator have taught me anything, it is that there is a constant war on traditional values which find their genius primarily from religious beliefs…mainly Judeo-Christian beliefs. As such, there is never a “cease-fire” from the left that continually attacks anything religious in nature, be it associated with the private sector or the political.

To attack Rep. Randy Forbes’ (R-Va.) resolution encouraging the display of the U.S. motto in public buildings, schools, and other government institutions is troubling, since the purpose is to remind the nation that we look to a higher power for our rights…not government. That continual reminder is critical if the nation is to remember that government is not the all-powerful “god” that so many would choose to make it. For “Rev.” Barry Lynn to promote the false myth that this national motto is a violation of the Establishment Clause of the Constitution is an attempt to undermine the fundamental underpinning of our Republic which in its founding documents acknowledged a creator. For “Rev.” Lynn to twist his argument by stating that the Motto amounts to an establishment of religion is not only weak, but has no basis in fact or practice.

Finally, “Rev.” Lynn uses the time-worn phrase by the left that “there are more important issues we should be dealing with” whenever they disagree on issues they disagree with as if only those issues they advocate are worth addressing in legislation. Strong arguments can be made that any legislation that undermines the intent of the Founding Fathers, is outside the congress’ designated authority, and restrains individual liberty and freedom certainly fall into the category of unimportant and possibly unconstitutional bills.

David Broder, 1929 - 2011

Plus, will NPR's public funding be axed?

And Libya: Moral imperative or mission creep?

The resignation of NPR CEO Vivian Schiller should be taken as a sign that NPR’s philosophy is not conducive to fair and balanced reporting. That said, this resignation should not affect any move to eliminate federal funding of this organization. The bottom line in determining funding should not be “whether government can afford it at this time,” or “is the organization advocating for one political point of view or not?” but rather, “Is such funding consistent with the proper role of government?” An objective look at this question should lead to the conclusion that such funding is definitely not an appropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

Wisconsin governor 'union busting'?

Walker should be commended for his proposal and should take whatever action deemed legal to reign in these rogue legislators who are acting like children by refusing to do their job. If legal in Wisconsin, these teachers and other union members should be immediately fired from their jobs much like President Reagan did with the air traffic controllers strike. What is being asked of these state union employees is very little in comparison with what the private sector has and is enduring.

This childish action by Wisconsin legislators will harden the public's views toward union membership of teachers and other state union employees. For Gov. Walker to avoid taking swift action will only cause escalation of this rebellion. I don’t doubt for a minute that this organized uprising has been planned for years by Union organizers who have known that the a real disparity between public/private salaries and benefits will cause increasing tension during this economic downturn. Only swift action is appropriate.

Obama’s comments that this effort is an “assault on unions” merely show how strong his allegiance is to organized labor who funded and worked so hard for his campaign. Where is the mainstream press at this time, calling on Obama to encourage these union thugs to engage in civil discourse?

Al Gore's Snowpocalypse theory?

Increasingly, citizens are seeing Al Gore as someone increasingly out of touch with reality on this issue. What comes to mind as Gore continues to justify such an absurd policy is Hans Christian Andersen’s tale, “The Emperor’s New Clothes.” As the emperor (Gore) parades in front of his subjects with no clothes (absurd theories), his subjects, fearing to point out the truth, admire these beautiful clothes, and it takes a child (a normal rational citizen) to point to the fact that “the emperor has no clothes.”

I suggest that Al Gore get a new tailor, one who understands reality.

Gore’s goal of moving us to a one-world government won’t happen by trying to sell citizens on the myth of global warming. Time to try a new theory, Al; one that is based on a bit of reality.

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